PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse is a key concern for the community of Lloydminster,
particularly youth substance abuse.

With over a third of Lloydminster residents saying the issue of youth
substance abuse is becoming worse and 75 per cent of the community
believing schools in the city are not drug free, according the
Lloydminster Area Drug Strategy (LADSAC) released last month, the new
prevention program - Kids and Drugs- a parent's guide to prevention -
couldn't have come at a better time.

"My hope is that it becomes sustainable within the community and that
it's something that we can carry forward," said LADSAC coordinator
Teressa Krueckl of the new program.

Jointly developed by Alberta Health Services (AHS), Alberta Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Commission's (AADAC) and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP), the new program will act as a tool for parents and
guardians, providing them with new strategies to prevent their
school-age children from abusing alcohol and other drugs.

Representing LADSAC, Krueckl was among the 60 drug coalitions from
across the province to attend the Alberta Drug Strategy Coalitions
Connect conference recently, where the program was unveiled.

"Not just in our community, but clear across Canada, a lot of the
focus is coming back on our youth, whether it's youth or their
guardians, it's a key area for us," said Krueckl, who will be taking
facilitation training for the program in the coming months.

Kids and Drugs includes a series of five workshop sessions for
parents and a parent handbook.

"We talk about the power of parents talking to their kids, helping
your kids make good decisions and information on drugs. What I hope
is that people will get over the stigma fi rst of all and be willing
to come out to the workshop," said Krueckl, of the program that is
geared to both parents and caregivers.

"I hope they take away some good tools on just how to stay involved
in you children's' life. We have become so busy and a lot of times we
forget the little things, so I hope it can reinforce for some parents
and also brings new tools and ideas for parents to take back and
bring into their family setting."

In the future Krueckl plans to not only facilitate the program in the
community, but train others to do so as well.

The partnership between drug coalitions - AHS, AADAC and the RCMP -
is integral for the program's success, according to Krueckl.

"You want the support coming from the top down. When you look at the
program, though the name says 'kids and drugs,' in itself there are
really so many other components to it. The big stressor is around
prevention, not intervention," said Krueckl.